On Saturday, May 5, Raam Emami, aka King Raam, plays Adelaide Hall. The show, which will be followed by another in Vancouver May 12, is a fundraiser for the #BringMaryamHome campaign, which Emami hopes will raise awareness to his familys plight.
Emami is the son of Kavous Seyed-Emami, the Iranian-Canadian academic and environmental activist accused of spying by the Iranian government in February and jailed in Iran’s infamous Evin Prison. He died two weeks later.
Seyed-Emami’s death was ruled a suicide by Iranian officials, but the circumstances surrounding his death have been brought into question by the family.
Emami, 37, and his brother travelled to Iran earlier this year to bury their father. But their mother, Maryam Mombeini, was prevented from leaving the country with them. Mombeini remains in Iran, her Iranian passport confiscated and her future uncertain.
Criticism of Iran’s action has been swift and widespread. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau took to social media to weigh in, calling on the Iranian government to allow Mombeini to travel to Canada and provide answers in the death of her husband.”
Emami has been playing music for decades, starting out in Irans underground rock and roll scene when playing music especially music with a message was viewed as dangerous.
For us, rock and roll, and music, was a way of escape, says Emami. In Iran you try to convince yourself that life is great, but its not. Youre living in a bubble full of fearful people some are dogmatic in their ideologies, some are just desperate and greedy for more money. For us, the only escape was music in a literal bunker four stories underground playing for eight, 10, 12 hours and coming out after dark outside when there wasnt a single soul in the streets. And were like: ‘OK, this is where we belong.’
Arash Sobhani, a close friend of Emamis and the frontman of Iranian folk rock band Kiosk, remembers growing up and not being able to carry a guitar on the streets in Iran. A lot of people take it for granted here. Sobhani says part of Emamis reason for travelling back to Iran for his fathers funeral was to be a part of the change that a lot of people believe [is coming]. At the end of the day, we all see that the regime doesnt want to open up [or] listen to the new generation.
Amid a flurry of rehearsals and interviews to discuss #BringMaryamHome, Emami took time to sit down for an interview with NOW.
Its strange. Its going to be the first show Ive played in a while. Some songs will be very emotional and difficult for me to play especially the one that I wrote for my father. But overall, its going to be a healthy distraction. Ive just been so consumed with all this anger and guilt just sadness its good to just be distracted for a little while because our lives just seem really shattered at the moment.
I wish I had spoken up sooner when my dad got arrested, but we werent worried. We didnt think anything of it. On a scale of one-to-10, we were probably worried at one. Its a lesson learned for anyone whos listening: if a loved one gets arrested, dont stay silent. Speak as loud as you fucking can.
Were probably going to go to the States. Im trying to just raise as much awareness as I can for my mom. You know, shes been with my dad since she was 17 she was 18 when she had me. All shes ever known her whole life was my dad. Now my brother and I have to provide for her. Its very difficult to be away from her for this long, to not have her in our lives, for her to be held hostage. Its just fucked up. This whole story is so messed up. It should never have happened.
Shes taken in three stray dogs, as a distraction. Were all dealing with our grief in our own weird way. Shes just really frustrated and tired that this whole event just wont finish up. She wants to be reunited with us as soon as possible and same for us. Its really sad that an innocent family have to suffer and be pawns in this bigger game of international diplomacy and power struggles.
Man, its crazy. My whole life feels like a frickin Hollywood movie right now from the time that my father got arrested, to his death in prison to us going back, being harassed, and threatened by the authorities. Its hard to believe but my brother and I have to be strong for our mom and for a lot of other people as well. At my dads funeral, a lot of mothers came whose sons also died in Iranian prisons. But they never had a voice, the reach that we have.
In a sense it does, but at this point my brother and I are not really afraid of the consequences of the actions were taking. Were just listening to our own gut and our own heart, and doing what we think is right. We have nothing to lose at this point. Even if one of us, or both of us, have to go back home to Iran facing arrest or imprisonment, well do that. Whatever it takes to bring our mom back home, were going to do it.
Its called But Youre Not Here. Its told from the point of view of my mom. Its like this is the first time Im walking in the mountains and the clouds arent here anymore. The springs are full of water again, but youre not here. All these beautiful things happening, but youre not here for me to share them with you.
Fucking hardest song I ever wrote. Every time I sing it I still get emotional. I dont know how Im ever going to be able to sing it without shedding a tear.
I have no choice but to be an optimist to go on and to survive. Were adaptable beings and if I were to give in and be all depressed and just mope around for the rest of my life, thats not what my dad would have wanted. He would have wanted me to go on be happy… do my rock and roll shit. So, I can continue to honour that. And I will, for the rest of my life.
This interview has been edited and condensed.
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Updated at 6:15 pm on Friday, May 4: An earlier version of this story mistakenly suggested that Maryam Mombeini travelled to Iran to attend her husband’s funeral.
